Ryanair flyer? Home-printed boarding passes won't be accepted from 12 November – here's what's happening and how it compares
If you're flying with Ryanair from Wednesday 12 November, you'll no longer be able to use home-printed paper boarding passes. We explain what's changing and how this compares to other major airlines.
Ryanair is the first major UK airline to ban home printed boarding passes
-
From Wednesday 12 November, Ryanair will no longer accept home-printed boarding passes. You'll instead automatically receive a digital boarding pass when you check in online or on the app.
-
You MUST still check in online or on the Ryanair app before you go to the airport. Fail to do this and, as is already the case, you’ll be charged an airport check-in fee of between £30 to £55, depending on the flight.
-
If you lose your phone or it runs out of battery after checking in, you can get a boarding pass printed at the airport for free. This previously cost £20. From 12 November, as long as you've checked in online, you won't be charged this extra fee.
Where countries demand paper boarding passes, for example Morocco, you'll need to check in online, then present your digital boarding pass via the app or Ryanair website at the airport. Ryanair will then print a paper pass for you free of charge.
Double check your airline's check-in and boarding pass policies before flying
To help you avoid unexpected fees on your next holiday, we've analysed boarding pass and check-in policies set by the biggest seven UK airlines – these are the key points to keep in mind:
-
As outlined above, Ryanair is the only major airline NOT to accept home-printed boarding passes.
-
Ryanair and Wizz Air are the only airlines to charge a check-in fee at the airport. This is where you've failed to check-in online (either via the airline's website app or online) in advance.
Airline | Home printed paper boarding pass accepted? | Digital boarding pass accepted? | Fee if you've NOT checked in online |
|---|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | N/A (i) | |
Yes | Yes | No fee | |
Yes | Yes | No fee | |
Yes (ii) | Yes (iii) | No fee | |
Yes | Yes | No fee | |
Yes | Yes | €40 (£35ish) per person, per flight if paid at the airport | |
No (iv) | Yes | £30 to £55 per person, per flight (depending on departure location) |
Information correct as of 10 November 2025. (i) You can ONLY check-in online. (ii) If you're flying to the United States, Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica or Costa Rica, you can't print your own boarding pass. You must instead print your check-in confirmation and bring it to the airport. (iii) An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Tui doesn’t accept digital boarding passes (based on information from its website). After double checking this with Tui, it confirmed that digital passes ARE accepted on most of its routes. To check the requirements for your flight, contact Tui. (iv) If you've checked in online, you can ask Ryanair to print your boarding pass at the airport for you.
For more Ryanair-specific guidance, from luggage rules to advice on booking extras, see MoneySavingExpert.com's rundown of 20+ Ryanair tips. Also browse MSE's travel guides for more holiday cost-cutting guidance, including snagging cheap flights and securing compensation for flight delays and cancellations.
Share this guide?
Latest weekly email
Clever ways to calculate your finances
